The Low Down on Career Tests
and Psychometric Testing

Often, when you look for advice on what you should do in your Career, you are faced with figuring out your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (the well known SWOT analysis. This is so you can better judge what motivation you have, help you decide your personality, team role and career aim.

However, it's not easy, faced with a blank sheet of paper, to put these down, then to get any meaning from them. You may not feel confident that you can articulate all this.

Enter the personality and psychometric tests - in particular, Career Tests.

In the world of psychometric tests, personality tests, Belbin and other means of assessing "you", it is difficult to know where to turn. There are a lot of cowboys out there, and also a lot of very expensive (hundreds of ££s or $$s) career tests and tools which give results which you can't be sure of.

For a personality profile which is both Professional AND Focused on career, try the CareerFitter Test

First of all, why bother?

The reason is simple. We go through life gaining experience, but also gaining habits which put us in a "box", with a label, like "project engineer", or "administration manager". But that's not all that we are.

However, when we try to be objective, it can be very difficult to figure out exactly what we are like, or what we truly want to do.

The idea of the various tests around is that you can answer a set of carefully designed questions which will give a guide as to how you behave and react, your personality, and what you are likely to do well and enjoy - both for career and life in general.

The most professional have a large number of two choice or multiple choice questions with checks to stop you "cheating". This is a serious issue for anyone attempting these career tests, as you may unconsciously believe one thing, but answer the opposite. The most sophisticated tests, like the second one in my recommendations, have questions re-phrased in different ways, to help you get to the bottom of how you feel, react with others and so on.

Please note, they form a GUIDE. They are not foolproof, though my second recommendation is as near that as can be.

OK then, what Tests are out there?

I decided to do some research into career tests that are useful and reliable. In other words, if you want to find out what kind of job you'd enjoy, and what kind of company you'd like to work for - or indeed whether you are best working for yourself, you want to be sure that any "personality profile" is both accurate and useful.

Having waded through a large number, I rejected books on career tests as being either superficial or misleading - I was surprised at how badly this market is served by books.

However, there are some excellent online tests - I have reduced the numbers down to three tests with different characteristics, but these things in common - relevant to your career, a sensible price, ease of use and understandable reports.

All three sites have examples, and I have tried all three Career Tests myself.

Career Test No.1 PeopleMap

This test gives a good written report, but is based on only 10 multiple choice questions. There is no way that an accurate assessment of your personality and career aspirations can result.

The report, however, was quite good, in spite of that. I would recommend it if you are wanting a quick confirmation of what you know already. Be warned - it says "try it free" but you still have to pay for the report. Click here for more information and to follow through.

Career Test No.2 My Skills Profile

This is a thoroughly professional and detailed test - or rather, series of tests. It is an absolute goldmine of quality testing and information.

Each of 10 different tests has up to 160 questions, showing a thorough understanding of the psychology of how people respond to questions. They cover Career Personality, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Relationships, Stress Assessment, Problem Solving, Team Role Preferences and more.

The reports are detailed and accurate and contain a fund of information to help you decide how you want to take your career forward, and indeed how to further your social life.

The only reservation I have is that you will end up with so many reports that you won't be able to decide how to use them to best effect.

If you are good a sorting through a lot of information and making decisions, this is definitely the package for you. Click here for more information and to follow through.

Career Test No.3 CareerFitter

Last but not least is a test which is specifically angled at finding the right career for you. The CareerFitter is a "hybrid" online career personality assessment showing people career direction and success

There is a straight career test, but also a second career research report which covers possible careers fitted to your profile.

This product combines a decade of work and research by psychologists and doctors and has clear sample reports to allow you to judge BEFORE you cough up any money.

If you want a clear directed report that will be of immediate help with your career, this is the ideal test. Click here for more information and to follow through.

General IQ Tests Learn Your IQ

CAREER TESTS IN SUMMARY:

For a quick but not very scientific test, try the PeopleMap test

For a highly professional set of tests, with comprehensive reports that you can use to your heart's content, try the My Skills Profile test

For a compromise - professional AND focused on career, try the CareerFitter test

Lastly, if you are wanting to know more about IQ tests, then find out more at Learn Your IQ

So, there you are - three tests and an IQ site, each with something clear and honest to offer, with my favorite being Career Fitter.

Happy testing!